Field Sobriety Test: Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN)

The HGN supposedly detects an involuntary jerking of the eye (nystagmus) while the eyes attempt to follow a stimulus. In other words, it involves the eye following an object to determine characteristic eye movement. Police officers across the county have been trained to use this as a means of determining if a driver is inebriated even though there are more than three dozen potential causes of nystagmus other than intoxication. This is among the longest and most complex FST. Here’s how it goes.

First, the officer must check the eyes by holding a stimulus (usually a pen) 12 to 15 inches from the nose slightly above eye level and then move it smoothly across the field of vision checking for resting nystagmus, equal pupil size, and equal tracking. The test must begin with the left eye and then right at a rate of two seconds per each eye per pass. Then, the officer must check for distinct and sustained nystagmus at maximum deviation, tracking each eye separately starting with the left eye. He must hold the stimulus at least four seconds once the stimulus is at the farthest point and the eye is at maximum deviation. This is repeated to check for heavy or distinct, sustained nystagmus.

The next step is to check for an onset of nystagmus prior to 45 degrees for the stimulus to reach the edge of the driver’s shoulder. The officer must stop if he sees any signs of jerking to see if it continues. This is repeated so that each eye is checked twice. The full four seconds must be used because if the stimulus moves too fast, the officer may go past the point of onset or miss it altogether.

Officers are trained to look for three clues when evaluating the nystagmus in each eye:

An inability to follow a moving object smoothly

A distinct and sustained nystagmus at maximum deviation

An onset of nystagmus at prior to 45 degrees

There must be a total of 14 passes for approximately 84 seconds. If the officer does a different number of passes than this or the time if significantly above or below 84 seconds, you know they’ve done it wrong. It is very important that the police report and cruiser cam videos be carefully examined to scrutinize the administration of this test.

If you have been charged with an DUI, call Austin Legal Services, PLC at (517) 614-1983 to speak to our Michigan OWI Attorney about your case.